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Aircrew Exams

PPL Navigation Tutoring | Wind Triangles, 1-in-60 & CRP-1W Help

PPL Navigation tutoring — wind triangles, 1-in-60 and dead reckoning

Section titled “PPL Navigation tutoring — wind triangles, 1-in-60 and dead reckoning”

Navigation is the subject where most PPL(A) students lose the most marks in the shortest time. The triangle of velocities looks straightforward until you are under exam pressure. The 1-in-60 rule makes sense in isolation but falls apart when combined with track error and closing angle. Dead reckoning, variation, deviation, magnetic versus true headings — each concept is manageable on its own, but the exam tests them together.

If any of that sounds familiar, a targeted session will identify exactly where the logic is breaking down and fix it. If you want to cover the whole subject from scratch, the 3-hour intensive takes you from chart basics through to radio navigation and in-flight procedures.

Navigation is also the subject where the CRP-1W Whizz Wheel saves the most time. Wind triangles, TAS, groundspeed and the 1-in-60 rule are all faster and more reliable with the flight computer than with formulas. If you are not yet confident with it, the CRP-1W Whizz Wheel masterclass covers the navigation calculation methods directly. The wind triangle and dead reckoning calculations in Navigation also connect closely to the fuel and performance planning in Flight Planning & Performance — both subjects use TAS and groundspeed as inputs, so building one strengthens the other.

Choose your session

Section titled “Choose your session”

Use a 1-hour session to solve a specific problem or choose a 3-hour session for a deeper, structured lesson. Both options are available for this subject below.

Navigation: 1-hour targeted help

1 hr per session

£70

Focused help with a specific topic, formula or concept.

Book Now

Navigation: 3-hour intensive session

3 hr per session

£150 / session

Structured subject teaching from the foundations through to exam readiness.

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Frequently asked questions

Section titled “Frequently asked questions”
Why do I keep getting the triangle of velocities wrong in the PPL Navigation exam?
The most common reason is confusing which vector represents wind velocity versus heading and TAS. Students often draw the triangle correctly but assign the wrong labels, which flips the answer. The fix is understanding what each side physically represents — the wind blows the aircraft off its intended track, and the heading vector corrects for it. Once that mental model is clear, the triangle becomes a tool rather than a formula to memorise. A single targeted session on this topic is usually enough to resolve it permanently.
What is the 1-in-60 rule and how is it used in the PPL Navigation exam?
The 1-in-60 rule states that for every 60 nautical miles travelled, 1 nautical mile of off-track error corresponds to 1 degree of track error. It is used in the PPL(A) Navigation exam to calculate track error angle, closing angle and the revised heading needed to reach your destination or a point along track. The exam tests it in combination with distance flown and distance remaining, which is where most students lose marks — not on the rule itself, but on applying it correctly under time pressure.
What is the difference between variation and deviation in PPL Navigation?
Variation is the angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a given location. It is caused by the Earth's magnetic field and varies by position and year. Deviation is the error introduced by the aircraft's own magnetic field acting on the compass — it differs on each heading. In the exam, you apply variation to convert between true and magnetic, then deviation to convert between magnetic and compass. The mnemonic TVMDC (True, Variation, Magnetic, Deviation, Compass) with the phrase 'cadets dead, variation magnetic, true' helps keep the direction of correction straight.
Is the CRP-1W Whizz Wheel required for the PPL Navigation exam?
Yes — or an equivalent approved flight computer. The UK CAA and EASA PPL(A) Navigation exam includes calculation questions on wind correction, TAS, groundspeed and time/distance that are designed to be solved with a flight computer. You are permitted to bring a CRP-1W or CRP-5 into the exam. Students who learn to use the wind arm correctly can solve these questions significantly faster than those working from formulas alone. If you are not confident with the CRP-1W, the Whizz Wheel masterclass covers exactly this.
How much of the PPL Navigation exam is calculation versus theory?
Roughly 40 to 50 percent of the UK CAA and EASA PPL(A) Navigation exam involves calculation or applied problem-solving — wind triangles, 1-in-60, time and distance, TAS, headings and chart measurement. The remainder covers chart symbology, radio navigation principles (VOR, NDB, DME, GPS), magnetism and the Earth. Both halves require understanding rather than memorisation. Students who struggle with the calculation half almost always benefit from a session focused specifically on the CRP-1W and the triangle of velocities.

Syllabus

Section titled “Syllabus”
General Navigation
  1. General Properties of Aeronautical Charts
  2. The use of current aeronautical charts
  3. ICAO Chart Symbology & Figure Reference Index
  4. Navigation Basics
  5. Practical Chart Plotting Procedures
  6. Triangle of Velocities
  7. 1-in-60 Rule
  8. Vertical Navigation & Ground Measurement
  9. Wind Calculations
  10. In-Flight Navigation
  11. General principles of magnetism
  12. Aircraft magnetism
  13. The Solar System
  14. The Earth
  15. Time and Time Conversions
  16. Distance